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Deepika Gunasekera has achieved accolades as a leading beautician due to her hard work, commitment and efficiency like most other successful entrepreneurs in the world.
Starting at the age of 22, Deepika got involved in beauty culture after she married Suraj Gunasekera in 1978.
She started her salon at home in a small way. Having gained experience she was able to conduct her first individual exhibition at Taj Samudra Art Gallery in 1979.
With the remarkable responses at the exhibition, she wanted to be a qualified beautician by gaining more theoretical and practical knowledge through well-renowned institutes.
In 1988 she first had her international exposure on beauty culture while studying at the in Thepawan School of Beautification in Thailand where she was granted life membership of the Beauty Culture Association of Thailand.
This paved a path for her to excel in her field by studying at international environments. The Arleen Beauty Center in Singapore, MoltoBene School of Hairdressing in Japan, Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Japan and Julian School of Art Flowers in Japan being some of them.
Having gained high recognition and respect for her work, she was able to set up her own modern hair and beauty salon in Nugegoda in 1994 to facilitate fashionable, high quality and diversified services to her customers.
"It was really hard work because most of the time I couldn't sleep with the cake decorations, bouquet making and bridal dressings. I manage activities on the understanding of clients regarding what they expect from me. Offering latest trends in suitability to customers at reasonable prices in hair cutting, hair styling, bridal dressings and personal grooming in a very innovative and creative manner, she has been able to attract more clients.
Among her other services are cake making and decorating, ornamental jewellery making and working on saris which are in demand.
She has reached the zenith of her career and has gained both local and international recognition as a renowned beautician and a popular TV personality in her field. Creativity, punctuality and understanding and giving priority to customers in assisting to solve their problems are her successes in the beauty culture field.
She started the International Academy of Beauticians two years ago at Nugegoda. The courses are designed to meet international standards to a syllabus set by the Asia Pacific Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (APHCA) which is a highly effective training programme to manage a successful salon. The academy was granted approval by the Teritary Education Commission Board last year.
She has also been able to introduce a large number of successful women entrepreneurs to Sri Lanka while some of them work in foreign countries as well. "Today local beauticians have reached the top by qualifying professionally and by experience. Today beauty culture has become a basic requirement for women and it has a big demand. Having gained experience for 27 years, she advises any woman who wants to be a good entrepreneur to plan and do a feasibility study. Be committed, focused and make trust to your work," she said.
Gunasekera said that she has learnt never to be disappointed or be afraid. Entrepreneurs should be brave, innovative, courageous and humble and should move forward against any obstacle. Her husband is supportive in giving courage. He is the President of APHCA for Sri Lanka. It is the international organisation networking 22 countries conducting Olympic competitions on beauty culture. The competition was held last year in Sri Lanka.
Gunasekera was a past pupil of Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya and Museaus College. She has a son and a daughter.
She has made her daughter also a strong entrepreneur excelling in the same field in an innovative way.
'It is my daughter who doubles the income in my salon with the latest technology introduced through her experience in Thailand, UK and USA,' she said.
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